5m ‘second tablets’ to be purchased in 2012

According to predictions by Deloitte, more and more people are going to own more than one tablet device. Jolyon Barker, global lead for Deloitte’s Technology, Media and Telecommunications department, said: “The tablet explosion has shown little sign of slowing down since hitting the market in 2010 and is set to take the mantle of the most rapid multiple market penetration in history.”

“Around five million tablets will be sold to people who already own one in 2012, generating up to £1.3 billion in revenue for technology businesses. It is worth remembering that it took several decades after introduction for more than five percent of households to have more than one car, phone, radio or TV.”

Sony, Samsung and Asus are all releasing updates to their respective tablet models this year – in a bid to gain ground on Apple’s iPad, the current market leader. The report also states that company tablet devices will need to have greater security features. The rise of the ‘multi-tablet household’ could present a challenge for content owners, network operators and retailers.

Deloitte’s media and technology team have also predicted that in 2012 the total number of apps available from all application stores will exceed two million. Last year, the size of the apps market more than doubled in 2011, reaching one million apps in December.